Movable device for driving piles and the like



June 17, 1952 A. P. JOURDAlN MOVABLE DEVICE FOR muvmc FILES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb W ANDRE PAUL JOURDAIN June 17, 1952 A. P. JOURDAIN 2,600,542

MOVABLE DEVICE FOR DRIVING FILES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 8, l949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W ANDRE PAUL JOURDAIN A. P. JOURDAIN MOVABLE DEVICE FOR DRIVING FILES AND THE LIKE June 17, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 8, 1949 AND ZE LAUI- JOURDAW BY 4 p MM AGEA/r Patented June 17, 1952 .MQVABLE'DEYIQE ron-pnrv ng rmns AND THE LIKE Andr Paul Jcurdain, Brussels; Belgium, ass-ignor to Gompagnie*Internationala'desi Pieux Amnes- Frankignoi1l, -Liege,' Belgium, fiocieteqAnonymc ebrua 8, 1949, S ial Ni -15,295

"Ijhis invention relates to a movable-device'for d i in ril s an e i e; whi h l e ab e. i ter alia, tocarryout, in the open air, piles or th e iike from l re-formed concrete orfli'se sections, that a a sembled to the .as the fCi i if l f fq ceeding.

The device accordingto the invention is of the type comprising a movable pil'e'qdriving member, which is guided in thedirectionof driving, the said member being acted upon by operating means able to apply theretothe force required for driving, which force is transmitted'tofthepile or the like, the range or" travel of the said member being-relatively, great, thus producing ,a continuousvsinlring oft-he pile or the like for a relatively greatdepthin the soil.

Accordingto the invention, the driving member consists in a r igidstructure or assembly comprising' we braced beams positioned; transverselyfof the. latform of the device [and extending. up to the outside thereof,- the saidbeams being spaced ar a. ei a ic ierl a eet aa h i i e the p l erihe like; the said l'e d nefilcm f beiee id a n tou eni es' e' en e i t' on both sidesof :the said beamsan abutmentmeine her ada ed: t ra sm the- 1 f re-tfd' the m l "o th like b in "mereb es ha i ma ccupy any-po ion 1 2 h swee l fincd bath sa -b amsemn erton re o til eseifii' le form i t e la e ald rcctien- ,i-accordine tonne-c en nt icrm oo the nt eetion, the pile driving memberf-is pl'QY-idedgvith rour-nutsengaeine. urzs mu ancouslv o r te parallel,- rotatable-jscrew worms secured inaxial posit on ongthcpla iifliimsfl the G- ViQBEfiE Q -T' ra edy :pa rsi tera vnbeyond th zsa d; pl tform.

According to a further; convenient formpf the invention, the pile drivingmember is;gui ded along four parallel guides secured upon the-platform and arranged by pairs laterally.-beyondthaPlatform, the said member being seemed 90 (W groups of cables operated in; -.synchronism; and capable of moving xthe said :membe 1 i ie the direction along the saidzguides.

More: specifically, thedevice; accordin 'vtorth invention makes it possible to sink splice: or the.

likeor considerable 1ength,-.:and to; carry out with smking in variousapoint's iofvan area-extend n transversely otthe device-without, involving IdiS! placement of the latter. The device further enables sinking action alonga .wall.

'Further features and-advantages of the invennon-will appear :from the dis'closu're-of twio emsedi ents given hcreinafter byway of example s Glai-rns. (crase zm.

with 1 reference to the accompanying diagrammaticdraw-ingsinwhich: i

Fig. l is a side, elevation, partly invsectipn of the central portion of the deviceoi theomven on, Fig. 2 is a sectional view Lsubstantial1y zgrl,line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig.3 is a sectionaLv-iewioithe tiallyon'line I1I+III (if-:Eigpl} e Fig. eis apartiahsid'e elevation refsatmodiigeationof the-device;

' Fig; 5 isadiagrammatic plan viewisho ving the arrangement of the main .o-peratingsxmmh icllfifi- Certain detailshave been omitted. inth-eigg vj ingfsforthe sake of clearness.

device comprises -19, platform consisting essentially of two longitudinal carriers l and two, cross pieces-2. T-he='-'platform is 'made disp1aceable,- conveniently by nieans uof-i rollersiiili adapted torcil up'on. metal girders Arresting on .awooden cradle niernbers il laidson thegroundfi. :fBheplah; form carries a tovver comprising essentially: tvvo trestlegirders oruprightslarranged transversely of-thepiatior-m, The tower isstifienedby-mcans; of-strutsf 8.

n theexample shown in *Eigssl to 3.;theplat: forincairies fouridentical vertical sicrew worms-r9: arranged by pairs beyond the longitudinal-mom: bers i the lateral direction; theiaends; ofzaithe Worms being rotatablysupported -in the platform and the upper;endsof the trestle uprightsiknee spectively. The worms are capable. of beingerotatedin synchronism:v by "suitable operating mechanism It], which may be actuated e. g; from a Deisel engine Ii -.mountedi onithezznlatiormihe worms have mounted thereon ado-tastwith ieachaotheriby means of rigid; ovables e lv. which. a will, sz'ad e t .b' moved; parallel ;to, the -yvorms due to the s m re-1 nous rotat on o the l t er mesa formin th dr v ng em e ect enhepi er KSG GRa- PQQ' M the heads or suc se tion's; assembly t ni-' prisestwo' beams flexing ding p rall el riers l, each beamfilz pojin rspect i -woimsi i'li i bfit A to each 'other by,;gi rdersf;l3 made rein section iron and forming a; rolling ra'ek fo' a' carr iage i4 supported by'm'eans of rollers 1-5 upon the'loweri flanges of the sections 13. The carriagerht carries a hydraulicjack--connected by meanscfi tubin (not shown) to a sourceIofiliquidsunderrnressnre; (such as a: pump operated from, A genginegtlg, the said jack beingii-adaptedjo act,upon the heacl of the pile l1 to-besunk. iDu icu'rsw rms .are1-arr nes t eteraflv stories sub tancarriers I and to the possibility of moving the" jack, the sinking operation may be effected not only between the carriers, but laterally beyond the latter as well, between each pair of worms 9, more especially at the points A and B. Owin to this arrangement, the device of the invention makes it possible to drive piles and the like along an existing wall, which is a considerable advantags in many instances. The carriage I4 may consist of an I-section, the lower flange of which has attached thereto the jack I6, so that the position of the latter may also be adjusted for a certain distance laterally with respect to the rolling track formed by the sections I3. Since the reaction from the driving action is taken up by the weight of the device, the latter is provided with ballast boxes I8, which may be filled at the working yard with gravel or other material, so that the device may be given a weight a hundred of tons or so.

The device of the invention makes it possible to sink, in a, single operation, pile sections of a length corresponding to the range of travel of the movable assembly I2-I6, plus, if desired, the range of travel of the jack plunger, that is to say a length of six to eight metres.

By providing a speed changing gear in the transmission operating the screws 9 from the engine II, the rate of sinking may be varied in accordance with the force required for sinking. For instance, using a 48 H. P. diesel engine, a pile section of six metres has been sunk in two minutes with a force of 15 tons, in three minutes with a force of 22.5 t., and in 5 minutes with a force of 50 t. As will be seen, the sinking is carried out at a particularly high speed. Moreover, the sinking action is eifected regularly, without impact or vibration. It will be understood that one could sink pile or like sections of substantially greater length than the worms 9, but the driving action should be eifected in this instance in two or more stages. Also in this instance, instead of acting upon the top of the pile, it will be necessary to act upon the periphery thereof by means of a driving member surrounding the pile and adapted to be momentarily clamped thereon.

The sinking may be advantageously effected with the aid of a hydraulic jack I6 which is intended to perform two functions:

(1.) Act as a pressure gauge that indicates continuously the force necessary for driving the pile;

(2.) Enable the sinking to be continued when the force required outranges thelimit determined by the power of the engine and the mechanical strength of the transmission system, c. g. 50 t. In this instance the worms are arrested and the work is continued by the jack alone. The liquid, such as water under pressure, is supplied to the jack by a hydraulic pump which may also be operated from the engine and is thus able to give three different outputs.

Moreover, the device according to the invention is designed so that the pile sections may be conveniently brought into the required position, which was often a difficult matter with known devices.

The trestle uprights I, which leave between them a free space in the transverse direction of the platform, are connected at their upper ends by means of a structure comprising a framework I9 supporting a ridge beam 20. To the lower flange of the latter there is attached a girder 2| formed of assembled section iron and adapted to slide with respect to the beam 20.

The girder 2I is provided with a rolling track formed e. g. by the lower flanges of the iron sections and on which a carriage 22 is adapted to roll, the said carriage having attached to it a pulley block operated by means of a cable 23 from a winch arranged on the platform. The carriage 22 may be moved along the girder H by means of any known mechanism, such as by operating the chain 24 manually.

When the movable assembly I2--I6 is in its lowermost position, that is to say at the lower end of the worms 9, as would be the case at the termination of a sinking action, then the whole of the space between the carriage 22 and the assembly is free in the transverse direction with respect to the plaform. The pulley block of the carriage 22 may then be used to lift a pile section II, whereupon the latter may be brought into a position perpendicularly above the sinking site by shifting the carriage. Then the pile section will be lowered until it rests on the soil or on a pile section previously sunk, such lowering being rendered possible by the fact that the two beams I3 are sufficiently spaced apart so as to allow the pile or the like to pass therebetween, and by the fact that the carriage I4 suporting the jack 16 may be moved aside to free the passage. Hence, all that need be done is to lift the assembly I2-IB, to engage the jack onto the top of the new pile and to operate the worms 9.

The girder 2| should project laterally, since it is advisable that the lifting of the pile is effected outside the profile form of the device, so as to avoid interference. However, such projection would be a hindrance when driving piles or the like adjacent a wall. To eliminate this disadvantage the girder 2I may be made slidable, so that it may be shifted from one side of the device to the other, the said girder being adapted to be locked in the desired position by any suitable means such as a removable locking pin 25.

A tackle for handling the piles or the like, as just described, would facilitate and speed up the Whole of the work. Such tackle may be used owing to the fact that the driving member enables piles or the like to be positioned across such member when the latter is at the lower end of its travel. Thus, owing to the combined use of the driving member and the tackle, any loss of time is avoided.

The device may be moved bodily by means of legs or crutches operated by hydraulic jacks 26 mounted on the platform. One end of each leg is pivotally connected to a frame 21 abutting upon the girders 4, the other end being pivotally connected to a bracket 28 eccentrically mounted on a plate secured to the platform and rotatable on a vertical pivot pin 29. When it is desired to vary the direction of push of the legs, all that is required is to rotate the unit 26-28 around the pivot 29.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5; the worms 9 and the operating gear I0 have been eliminated, the guiding and the operation of the driving member I2I6 being eifected by separate means. Instead of being provided with nuts, the beams I2 are furnished with four guide bushings adapted to slide on vertical guides 30 which are arranged in positions similar to those occupied by the worms 9 of Figs. 1-3, such guides consisting of vertical cylindrical shafts secured onto the platform and held in position by cross members 3I pertaining to structures similar to gasses the trestle; girder-s1 ,orFlgs; 1-3, such structures being not shown ini'i'g. '4.

The, movable assembly 12-16 is suspended on two cables or the like 32, each cable being operated from two winch drums'33, 3.4 and passing on pulleys carried by the cross members SI and on pulleys 36 carried by the beams 12. Furthermore, the downwardv pulling'forc'e is exerteu upon the driving member I2-l6 by two cable's3'l, each of which is operated from: two winch drums 38, 39 and passes around block pulleys 40,?4! and 42, 43, thepulleyslll, 42 belngjearried by" the beams l2, andthe pulleys 4 l ,f l3.by'fthe platform.

The drums 33, 34,38 and 39 are operated through a transmission gear (not shown) driven from, the engine I I. The drums '33'a'nd 34 onthe one'fliand and'the drums38and39 on'theother hand are synchronized, viz., either by pairs positionedon the same" lateral side of 'thedevicemr all the *four drums 33, 34 are synchronized for themselves and the four drums 38, 39 are synchronized for themselves. It willbe seen that the pulleys 36 are carried by the beams i2 and are movable therewith, so that the cable 32 passing from one of these pulleys tothe other does not interfere with the tackling of the piles by means of s the "carriage having attached thereto a pulley b1ock"22 operated bymeansof the cable '23 and theindependent winch M. l

To draw the driving member 12-48 do'wn wards, it is only necessary to unlock the drums 33, 34" and the cables 32- and to operate the drums 38, 39, whereby thedesired pulling force will be applied through'the cables 31. driving member upwardly, the drums 38, 39 and cables 31 are unlocked and the-drums 33, 34 and cables 32 are operated.

Operation of the driving member through cables provides a particularly simple construction of thedeviceand showsa further advantage in that the driving of' piles or-thelike may be carried out at a very high speed.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the examples described and illustrated, as various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

l. A pile driver apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of spaced uprights forming a supporting frame; a platform located adjacent to said uprights and having guide portions thereon which extend in a horizontal direction beyond the outer limits of said uprights; means for moving said platform vertically along said uprights; a ramming device; and means for mounting said ramming device on said guide portions of said platform for movement therealong, whereby a pile may be driven at a plurality of locations with respect to said apparatus without moving said supporting frame.

2. A pile driver apparatus comprising, in combination, a base member; a plurality of spaced uprights forming a supporting frame on said base member; a platform located adjacent to said uprights and having guide portions thereon which extend in a horizontal direction beyond the outer limits of said uprights and said base member; means for moving said platform vertically along said uprights; a ramming device; and means for mounting said ramming device on said guide portions of said platform for movement therealong, whereby a pile may be driven at a plurality of locations with respect to said apparatus without moving said supporting frame.

To move the 2" 6 3:. A pile-driver"apparatuscomprising,= in 'combination, a base member; a plurality-cf spaced uprights forming a supportingframe on "said base member; a platformlocated adjacent to sal'd uprights and having guide portions thereon which extend in a horizontal direction beyond the outer limits of said uprights and said-base member; means formoving said platform vertically along said uprights; a ramming *device;

and means for mounting said ramming device-on said guide portions "of said platform for-movem'enttherealong; whereby a pile -m'ay be "driven at a plurality of locationswith respect =to-sald apparatus without moving said supportingframe,

- the ramming device may be moved -'in-two direc-- tions with respect to said supporting frame.

4. A pile driver apparatus comprising, incombination, a base member; a plurality of spaced uprights forming a supporting frame on said base member; a platform locatedadjacent to said uprights and having guide portions thereon which extend in a horizontal direction beyondtheouter limitsof said uprights-and said base member;-screw meansformovin'g said platform vertically alongsaid uprights; a ramming devicer and means for mounting said ramming device-on said. guide portions of said platform for movement therealon-g, whereby-a *pile' may be driven rata plurality ei locations with respect to said apparatus without moving said supportingframe 'sald means for mounting said-ramming deviceon sa'id guide: portions comprising additional guide per. tions extending transversely of said first-mentioned guide portions and being opeiatively-ccnnected to said ramming device, :so that-the rammingdevice may be movedin two directions-witb respect tos'aidsupporting frame. a

5. A pile driver apparatus comprising, in combination, a base member; a plurality of spaced uprights forming a supporting frame on said base member; a platform located adjacent to said uprights and having guide portions thereon which extend in a horizontal direction beyond the outer limits of said uprights and said base member; pulley means for moving said platform vertically along said uprights; a ramming device; and means for mounting said ramming device on said guide portions of said platform for movement therealong, whereby a pile may be driven at a pluraliy of locations with respect to said apparatus without moving said supporting frame, said means for mounting said ramming device on said guide portions comprising additional guide portions extending transversely of said first-mentioned guide portions and being operatlvely connected to said ramming device, so that the ramming device may be moved in two directions with respect to said supporting frame.

6. A pile driver apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of spaced uprights forming a supporting frame; a platform having opposite outer edges and being located adjacent to said uprights, said platform having guide portions thereon which extend in a horizontal direction beyond the outer limits of said uprights and up to said outer edges of the platform, the said guide portions being located at a substantial distance from each other so that there is provided between said guide portions a space in which a pile to be driven may be accommodated;

means for moving said platform vertically along said uprights; a ramming device; and mean for mounting said ramming device on said guide portions of said platform for movement therealong, whereby a pile may be driven at a plurality of locations with respect to said apparatus without moving said supporting frame.

'7. A pile driver apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of spaced uprights forming a supporting frame; a platform having opposite outer edges and being located adjacent to said uprights, said platform having guide portions. thereon which extend in a horizontal direction beyond the outer limits of said uprights and up to said outer edges of the platform, the said guide portions being located at a substantial distance from each other so that there is provided between said guide portions a space in which a pileto be driven may be accommodated; means for moving said platform vertically along said uprights; a ramming device; and means for mounting said ramming device on said guide portions of said platform for movement therealong, whereby a pile may be driven at a plurality of locations with respect to said apparatus without moving said supporting frame, said means for mounting said ramming device on said guide portions of said platform comprising additional guide portion extending transversely of said first-mentioned guide portions and being operatively connected thereto for movement therealong, said ramming device being movably mounted on said additional guide portions for movement therealong, whereby said additional guide portions and ramming device mounted thereon may be moved in one direction with respect to said first-mentioned guide portions and whereby said ramming device may be moved along said additional guide portions in a direction transverse to said one direction.

8. A platform mounted for vertical movement in a pile driving apparatus comprising, in com-- 8 bination, a pair of substantially identical beams mounted in spaced and substantially parallel relations to each other and located at outer edge portions of the platform; a pair of cross members respectively connected at outer end portions thereof to the under sides of said beams, the said pair of cross members being located at a substantial distance from each other so that there is provided between said cross members a space in which a pile to be driven may be accommodated, the said cross members each having lower flange portions extending along the entire length thereof and being substantially parallel to said beams; roller means extending across the space between said cross members and being mounted on said lower flange portions thereof for movement therealong, whereby said roller means is movable across the entire space included between said cross members; and elongated guide means extending transversely of said cross members at the under side thereof and being adapted to slidably support the ramming device of the pile driving apparatus thereon, said guide means being connected to said roller means so as to be movable with said roller means along the entire space between said cross members, whereby, when the platform is in its lowermost position, a pile to be driven may be located anywhere in the space between said cross members and the platform then lifted to locate the ramming device over the pile thus located in said space.

ANDRE: PAUL JOURDAIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name a Date 131,746 Du Bois Oct. 1, 1872 2,209,660 Oka July 30, 1940 

